Junior Certification celebrations in Carrick-on-Shannon resulted in one youth being knocked down, another receiving serious facial injuries as a result of an assault while a number of others were hospitalized for alcohol-related complaints.

It is understood 24 Gardaí (police) were in operation on the night while seven ambulances were deployed.

Gardaí in Carrick-on-Shannon have also renewed their appeal for a member of the public, believed to be a woman from Leitrim Village, who phoned them on the night of the Junior Certification celebrations, Wednesday (September 12) to make contact with them again.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

A British television star has been remanded in custody after he pleaded guilty to robbing more than $6,500 in cash from a MoneyGram outlet in Limerick city center more than three years ago.

Craig Fitzpatrick (25) who previously had an address at Emmet Place, St. Joseph’s Street, Limerick appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court last evening following his extradition from the U.K.

He pleaded guilty to robbing $6,700 in cash from Meed Beauty, Parnell Street on August 15, 2009.

A number of staff members were threatened with a knife during the incident although, Limerick District Court heard, Fitzpatrick only acted as a lookout.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

A man was in stable condition in hospital last Thursday morning after he was knocked down by a car on his way to work outside Ballymahon.

The incident happened at around 6:30 a.m. on the main Ballymahon to Athlone Road. It is believed the man was walking along the road as he made his way to work at the nearby Kepak meat processing facility when the incident occurred.

Gardaí (police) cordoned off the road for a period of time this morning as part of the investigation. So far, details as to what may have caused the accident remain unclear although detectives are working on the belief that a motorist traveling in the Athlone direction had been attempting to overtake a lorry shortly before the incident took place.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

The Louth and Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick says that he will not vacate his seat in the Dail (Irish Parliament) if there is further cuts at the Louth County Hospital, the Dundalk Democrat can reveal.

An angry citizen placed a number of posters highlighting the cuts at the hospital in a number of locations around Dundalk, including the Dundalk Democrat’s office.

A point on the posters states “Fitzer, seek to reverse this trend of decision making or vacate your seat in the Dail. Remember, ill health will not simply go away because of political decision making.”
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Cutbacks in home help hours will lead to premature deaths for those with chronic illnesses, according to Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, North Mayo coroner.

Fitzgerald’s comments came following an inquest into the death of an elderly man in Ballina who suffered with Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Although the man was receiving home help at the time of his death, Fitzgerald said if proposed cuts were to be brought in more deaths of this kind would happen.

“The importance of home help cannot be stressed enough. If there were to be reductions in the number of home help hours there would be an increase in the number of deaths among people with chronic illness.

“That’s not to say they would all take their own lives but there would be an increase in depression and certainly other mental health issues and quality of life would be diminished. It would end up with early demise [for those with chronic illness],” she said.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH

Ireland's first electricity link with Great Britain has been officially opened at Batterstown by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, TD, Irish and British energy ministers and EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger.

The EirGrid East West Interconnector runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath in Ireland. Approximately 160 miles in length, the underground and undersea link has the capacity to transport 500 megawatts – enough energy to power 300,000 homes.

The EirGrid Interconnector will carry electricity both ways, helping to improve security of supply, increase competitiveness and to encourage the growth of renewable energy generation.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]
MONAGHAN

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains has announced that it has resumed the search for the remains of Columba McVeigh at Bragan Bog.